SEC Week 2 Rankings, Predictions & Quick Takes

1. Alabama (2-0)

Quick Take: The defense just stopped one of the nation’s best statistical offenses cold – at least it’ll be among the best by the end of the year – and didn’t let it get anything going, especially on the ground. It’s Alabama, so nitpick time. The line couldn’t get the ground game going, rushing for just 3.2 yards per carry and 124 yards overall. Fortunately, Jalen Hurts and the receiving corps made everything easy with a 287-yard, two-score passing day from the freshman. Blake Barnett only hit 2-of-6 throws.

2. Tennessee (1-1)

Quick Take: There are still plenty of problems, and it would be nice if Joshua Dobbs didn’t have to run for 106 yards and two touchdowns to provide a spark, but the Vols put up 45 points and roared after a rough first half. The 330 yards of total offense just aren’t enough, but when the defense is forcing five turnovers, it’s easy to overcome the short passing game and poor play on third downs. Tennessee is 2-0 and got through the big quirky game – take it.

3. LSU (1-1)

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Quick Take: That didn’t exactly help calm everyone down. Brandon Harris was awful, Danny Etling completed 6-of-14 passes, and now it’s truly panic time at quarterback. With Leonard Fournette out, Derrius Guice ran wild for 155 yards and two scores, and it took an all-timer of a punt return for a score from Tre’Davious White to provide a spark, but this didn’t look like a team ready to rise up after the loss to the Badgers.

4. Florida (2-0)

Quick Take: That’s what you do against a program you’ve owned for three decades. The defense destroyed the UK offense throughout the game – it was total domination against the Wildcat passing game – while Luke Del Rio was great throwing for 320 yards and four touchdowns. The running game ramped it up after a bad day against UMass, and Antonio Callaway exploded with a big day. Kentucky might be lousy, but Florida was fantastic.

5. Ole Miss (1-1)

Quick Take: Sometimes a team just needs to get back on the field. That’s what it seemed like for Ole Miss after the Monday night loss and a short week, trying to get the second half against FSU out of its head. Chad Kelly took care of that with a nearly perfect performance, while the D held its own – for the most part – against the Wofford triple-option rushing attack. The Rebels don’t look ready to beat Alabama, but they bounced back.

6. Texas A&M (2-0)

Quick Take: That was fun. It was going to be a blowout no matter what, and everyone put up big numbers and the D was a brick wall against the run, so it’s time to nitpick. The quarterbacks have to be more accurate. Trevor Knight threw for 344 yards and three scores, but he only completed 21-of-37 passes with a pick. Jake Hubenak hit just 5-of-11 throws.

7. Arkansas (2-0)

Quick Take: The Hogs might be living by the skin of their teeth over the first two weeks, but they’re 2-0 with a win at TCU – take it no matter what. Kenny Hill might have had the big game, and there might have been a slew of defensive and special teams breakdowns, but Austin Allen became the leader and star of the offense – teams will follow you when you come through in the clutch like he did.

8. Georgia (2-0)

Quick Take: Obviously it was an unfocused effort. Jacob Eason completed 11-of-20 passes for 204 yards and a score with a bad pick, but the problem was the ground game. Going forward, Greyson Lambert has to keep being worked into the mix with Eason – or the other way around. What really matters about this close call? Nick Chubb had to run the ball 20 times. He gained just 80 yards and the team came up with just 167 yards on the ground.

9. Auburn (1-1)

Quick Take: Therrrrrrrre, we go. That’s more like it. The offense looked the part again with 705 yards on the day and 462 on the ground. John Franklin III got in some work running the ball, but Sean White was the quarterback without a lot of messing around, doing a fantastic job hitting 17-of-23 passes for 244 yards and three scores to go along with 60 yards on the ground. Don’t blow it off just because it was Arkansas State – Auburn needed to show it could do this.

10. Missouri (1-1)

Quick Take: Who cares that it came against Eastern Michigan? The Tigers scores 61 points while having the ball for 21:16. It was a cathartic moment with Drew Lock throwing for 450 yards and five touchdowns, the running game taking off for big runs, and an offensive explosion that was a long time coming. Now the Tigers know they can work on offense again – so do it against Georgia next week.

11. Mississippi State (1-1)

Final Score: Mississippi State 27, South Carolina 14Prediction: Mississippi State 23, South Carolina 17, MSU -6.5Up Next: at LSU

Quick Take: It was a team on a mission. The offense might have gone bye-bye in the second half, but Nick Fitzgerald did what he needed to do in the first half, but the team got lazy in the second. Fitzgerald ran wild for 195 yards, and he threw for 178 yards and two scores. After the painful way the Bulldogs lost to South Alabama, now the team looks back on track. By the way, Westin Graves nailed both his field goal attempts and all three extra points.

12. South Carolina (1-1)

Final Score: Mississippi State 27, South Carolina 14Prediction: Mississippi State 23, South Carolina 17, MSU -6.5Up Next: East Carolina

Quick Take: Perry Orth and the passing game needed to be sharper. The run defense had its problems against Nick Fitzgerald, and the running game didn’t get off the bus, so it was up to Orth to make plays early on, and he didn’t. Brandon McIlwain provided a spark, but this team isn’t built to overcome a 24-0 deficit.

13. Vanderbilt (1-1)

Quick Take: Middle Tennessee’s offense worked, and Vanderbilt still won in a blowout. Ralph Webb has long been a fantastic running back mired in mediocrity considering the team around him, but he carried the Commodores with 211 yards and two scores helping the offense take advantage of every opportunity. The passing of Kyle Shurmur is still an issue, though, hitting just 15-of-28 throws.

14. Kentucky (0-2)

Quick Take: Get a time out on your season, Kentucky. It’s not working. After a stunning loss to Southern Miss to kick things off, things just got far, far worse with the passing game completing 3-of-14 passes for 55 yards and three picks – yes, Kentucky threw more passes to Gators than to Wildcats. New Mexico State will make things look okay, but this game proves that the program isn’t taking the steps forward everyone was hoping for by this point in the Mark Stoops era.